Napoli draws 0-0 against Chievo in blow to title hopes

MILAN (AP) — Napoli’s hopes of pushing Juventus all the way in the title race diminished on Sunday and the boos rang out after it was held to a surprise 0-0 draw by bottom-of-the-table Chievo Verona.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side is now already eight points behind Juventus, which beat Spal 2-0 on Saturday and looks to be on an unstoppable march to a record-extending eighth Serie A title.

Napoli is also just a point ahead of third-placed Inter Milan, which also won on Saturday. It would not have been the buildup it wanted ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League match against Red Star Belgrade.

“It’s not a draw that will make me lose sleep,” Ancelotti said. “We’ll wait until the end of the first half of the season to evaluate the standings.”

The result saw Chievo move onto one point. It has managed four draws all season but was deducted three points in September for false accounting.

It was Chievo’s first match under its third coach of the season, Domenico Di Carlo. Lorenzo D’Anna was fired and Giampiero Ventura abruptly resigned after just four games.

The hosts improved after the break but Lorenzo Insigne could only hold his head in his hands after firing wide from close range.

Inisgne went even closer with Napoli’s best chance of the match but a trademark curling shot from the Italy international came off the far post.

Kalidou Koulibaly almost scored a spectacular late winner for Napoli but his overhead kick flashed narrowly wide.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PLACES

Lazio held onto fourth place — which carries the final Champions League berth — with a last-gasp goal to earn a 1-1 draw with visiting AC Milan.

Joaquin Correa used chest control and a low volley to score in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Franck Kessie had put Milan ahead in the 78th with a shot that was deflected in by Lazio defender Wallace.

Also, Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu hit the post early on and Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made a spectacular one-handed save to keep out a powerful header from Wallace while Milan was leading.

Lazio remained one point ahead of Milan.

EMOTIONAL DERBY

Genoa and Sampdoria drew 1-1 in an emotional derby, the first since 43 people were killed in the Morandi highway bridge collapse in August.